INFER Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'infer' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of infer are conclude , deduce , gather , and judge . While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise . // from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

Q: Where would 'conclude' be a reasonable alternative to 'infer'?

In some situations, the words conclude and infer are roughly equivalent. However, conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning. // concluded that only the accused could be guilty

Q: How are the words 'deduce' and 'infer' related?

Deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization. // denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

Q: When is 'gather' a more appropriate choice than 'infer'?

While the synonyms gather and infer are close in meaning, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications. // gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Q: In what contexts can 'judge' take the place of 'infer'?

The synonyms judge and infer are sometimes interchangeable, but judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based. // judge people by their actions

infer

verb

in-ˈfər

Definition of infer next

as in to derive

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information he inferred that she had left because her coat was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to indicate

to convey an idea indirectly the results infer that there might be a problem with one piece of the equipment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word infer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of infer are conclude, deduce, gather, and judge. While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to infer?

In some situations, the words conclude and infer are roughly equivalent. However, conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

How are the words deduce and infer related?

Deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

When is gather a more appropriate choice than infer?

While the synonyms gather and infer are close in meaning, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

In what contexts can judge take the place of infer?

The synonyms judge and infer are sometimes interchangeable, but judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of infer Because baleen whales — of which there are 16 species, including Humpback, Blue and Fin whales — are too large to study in captivity, biologists have had to infer their hearing ability from studies of whale behavior, how other animals interact with them and from models of their anatomy. —

Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024 Like tree rings, they can be used to infer developmental speeds and timing. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024 For more than a decade, astronomers have been searching that area for a hidden planet that has never been observed, but its presence is inferred by the behavior of other nearby objects. —

Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024 The unexpected destinations, plus Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last weekend in deep-blue New York, has led some Republicans to infer that Trump is overruling the political pros on his team. —

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for infer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for infer

Verb

Seeing the actual act of ejaculation on-screen magnifies the euphoria of this moment and how much joy can be derived from prioritizing and pleasuring yourself as well as others.

David Opie, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
The Single Estate Series reflects Mount Gay’s focus on terroir, with the use of molasses derived exclusively from the estate’s sugar cane.

Rachel King, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024